Program Manager (NEST360 Project) at APIN

Requisition ID: api-16592

Project Overview

• Reducing newborn deaths is a critical global health priority. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2 has a target for all countries to reduce neonatal mortality rates below 12/1,000 by 2030. At current rates of progress, sub-Saharan Africa will be the last global region to achieve SDG 3.2, reaching the target over fifty years or more too late.
• NEST360 (Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies) catalyzes change for newborn care, enabling African countries to meet the 2025 ENAP coverage targets and the SDG 2030 newborn survival targets.
• The NEST360 international alliance has been optimizing this multi-stakeholder, evidence-based model in Nigeria since 2019.
• Building on demonstrated evidence of impact at seven hospitals in the southwest region of Nigeria, NEST360 in Nigeria is currently positioned to scale up interventions to more public and private Nigerian hospitals with a high volume of inborn and outborn newborn rates throughout the country.
• NEST360 aims to end preventable newborn death in African hospitals by 2030. Our solution begins with the insight that saving newborn lives requires simultaneous delivery of a package of interventions that cut across the entire health system.
• Together with African governments, educational institutions, and the private sector, NEST was created as a proven package of Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies designed to ensure that all newborns receive quality care.
• In view of this, NEST360 is now a program that delivers life-saving affordable newborn technologies; builds strong human resources to support newborn care; provides medical technology management and innovation; and shares evidence-based strategies and an investment case to scale and sustain quality newborn care.
• The Project team in partnership with APIN Public Health Initiatives is working alongside the FMOH, the current implementing states, Oyo, Lagos and the FCT,  strengthening their capacity to effectively deliver quality Comprehensive Newborn Care services.
• As part of our scale up strategies and as we look forward towards better coverage of the care of the small and sick newborns across the country, we will require the services of a program manager.

Role Purpose

• The program manager will be expected to support the Rice360 Country Director in project planning, coordination and support program operations, including ensuring compliance with grant regulations and monitoring of program implementation.

Scope of Work

• The NEST Program Manager will provide sound technical management and coordination of NEST360 implementing team, for the successful implementation and achievement of project deliverables.
• The NEST program manager will work with the NEST360 project team to ensure that the NEST360 program is executed according to work plan and budget and in line with program policies, focusing on program quality and sustainability across the components of newborn health care programming.
• He/She will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with the headship of health facilities and the Ministry of Health in states where NEST360 program is being implemented, ensuring quality monitoring of NEST360 implementation and progress.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management and Technical Quality:

• Provide managerial oversight over the implementation of NEST360 program activities with high quality, meeting donor and organizational standards.
• Provide effective operational support to the NEST360 implementing team and ensure consistent budget and financial tracking.  
• Conduct monthly BVA reviews, and take necessary actions when needed; ensuring budgets are used appropriately and efficiently, and spending is in line with APIN financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Coordination with the M&E/training manager, Engineering training and maintenance manager and the qualitative research lead to prepare and execute project work plans with clear targets and deliverables
• Work with M&E to ensure timely data collection and data compilation, and ensure timely submission of both internal and donor reports.
• Ensure constant liaison with partners, state MoH officials and facility heads as part of maintaining partnership and engagement with stakeholders in line with NEST360 program strategy for sustainability.
• Undertake regular field visits to monitor project implementation and provide on-the-spot support to field teams accordingly.
• Perform any other relevant task as directed by the Rice360 Country Director.

Coordination and Representation:

• Participate in coordination meetings at state and facility level and ensure representation at field implementation meetings.
• Participate at relevant state TWG meetings as required.
• Facilitate field monitoring visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.

Key Working Relationships:

• Line Manager: Rice360 Country Director
• Technical Collaboration: M&E/Training manager; Engineering training and maintenance manager; Qualitative research lead.
• Position has a matrix Supervisory role: 5 data clerks.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Health-related field with a Post-graduate qualification (Preferably Master’s Degree) in Public Health, Development Studies, or any other relevant field.
• Previous Training in Project Management or Systems Strengthening.

Work Experience and technical skills required:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in coordination and implementation of health programs, specifically in management of newborn health programs at the state or national level.
•  Experience working jointly with national or state, and/or local health actors to strengthen the quality and responsiveness of child health services, particularly newborn health services.
• Technical expertise and working knowledge in the conduct of Health Facility Assessment.
• Capacity to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Experience in report writing and budgeting (organization and donor reporting)
• Ability to conduct field travel when required.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Language Requirement:

• English Fluency (spoken and written).